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Lee alum Chris Oglesby has been accepted as a 2019 Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera Center.

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Lee University alum Chris Oglesby has been accepted as a 2019 Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera Center. Oglesby will begin his fellowship in January 2019.

The Adler Fellowship is a multi-year performance-oriented residency that offers advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching, and professional seminars, as well as a wide range of performance opportunities. Since its founding in 1977, the fellowship has helped develop more than 180 young artists.

Chris Oglesby

Oglesby, tenor, was most recently a resident artist at Utah Opera, where he sang Tybalt in “Romeo et Juliette” and was the tenor soloist for Handel's “Messiah” with the Utah Symphony. As a participant of the 2018 Merola Opera Program, he debuted as Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky's “The Rake's Progress.”

An active soloist and recitalist, Oglesby has performed with the Utah Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Dallas Puccini Society, and Opera Diversitá. Other recent credits include Box in “Cox and Box,” Don Ottavio in “Don Giovanni,” and Tamino in “Die Zauberflöte.”

While at Lee, Oglesby studied voice under Tony Deaton, associate professor of voice.

“I have Professor Deaton to thank for teaching me the nuts and bolts of healthy singing and for never letting me get away with slipshod work,” said Oglesby.

He also performed with Lee’s Opera Theatre, directed by James Frost, associate professor of voice, who Oglesby said endeared him to the camaraderie and magic of opera.

Also during his time at Lee, Oglesby was a recipient of the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award. This grant is awarded annually in agreement with stipulations set by The Presser Foundation, established by music publisher Theodore Presser to recognize students who demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in music performance.

“It was a delight to have Chris in my voice studio during his time at Lee,” said Deaton. “Chris was the ideal student; very talented, blessed with a beautiful voice, exceptionally smart, and a diligent worker. I am incredibly proud, glad, and grateful for the success he is enjoying. I am confident he has a very bright future in opera performance.”

Oglesby holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of North Texas and Bachelor of Music degrees in vocal performance, choral education, and band education from Lee University.

Lee alum Chris Oglesby has been accepted as a 2019 Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera Center.
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Date: 2018-11-16

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Brittney Perez was named Miss Parade of Favorites 2018.

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Brittney Perez, a junior English major representing Campus Choir, was named Lee University’s Miss Parade of Favorites 2018 on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Perez was escorted by Samuel Utt and also received the interview and talent awards. She sang “Up to The Mountain” by Patty Griffin.

Brittney Perez, Parade of Favorites 2018

First runner up was awarded to Lauren Goss, who represented Delta Zeta Tau and was escorted by Jake Broome.

Rachel Kirkland, who was escorted by David Vandersteeg and represented Omega Alpha Phi, was second runner up.

Rebekah Proctor, representing Upsilon Xi, was third runner up. She also received the Kay McDaniel Woman of Achievement Award, given to the contestant who has been an overcomer despite life’s obstacles. Her escort was Joshua Dawson.

Representing Tau Kappa Omega, Baylee Deems was fourth runner up. She was also the recipient of the congeniality award. Colson Korpak was her escort.

Lexy White, representing Sigma Alpha Omega, received the service award. She was escorted by Peyton Clark.

Lucas Yanes, escort of Tori Stepp, was named winner of the escort award.

Parade of Favorites is an annual, student-led talent showcase at Lee University. Various campus clubs and organizations select representatives to compete on the club's behalf. This year’s theme was “Reflections.” Lee student Randyl Music directed the event.

Lee’s chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta international English honors society recently held its 16th annual Literary Symposium.

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Lee University’s chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta international English honors society recently held its 16th annual Literary Symposium, providing 30 students from five different schools the opportunity to present critical and creative work.

Along with English majors from Lee, students from Charleston Southern University, Covenant College, Shorter University, and Tennessee Wesleyan University presented 16 creative works and 18 critical essays. Creative pieces ranged from prose to poetry to drama, while critical works included scholarship on African, American, British, and French literature and drama, as well as essays on popular culture.

“It was fun coming and getting to see what other students at other universities are writing and thinking about,” said Rachel Holbrook, a senior creative writing major at Tennessee Wesleyan who presented a short story during one of the creative panels.

After the panels from the three separate sessions had concluded, Dr. Jason Crawford gave a plenary lecture during the lunch hour. An associate professor of English at Union University, Crawford presented an ecocritical interpretation of Shakespeare’s dramas titled, “Caring for Creation: What Does Shakespeare Know?” Crawford’s research ranges from early modern literature to Shakespeare to Bob Dylan.

“Lee has always been extremely hospitable to students coming from other universities,” said Dr. Carissa Turner Smith, professor of English at Charleston Southern and chair of one of the symposium’s critical panels. “We’re glad to bring students to a place where they can interact with English majors from a Christian university and see what they have in common.”

Dr. Chad Schrock, associate professor of English at Lee, serves as a faculty sponsor for Lee’s Alpha Beta Iota chapter of Sigma Tau Delta and organized the symposium.

“One of my favorite memories of the symposium is that well over a dozen people lingered after the lecture for something like an hour, talking,” Schrock said. “People had listened to four hours of reading, and they weren’t done thinking about ideas or connecting with others.”

Lee’s chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta international English honors society recently held its 16th annual Literary Symposium.
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Date: 2018-11-14

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Patricia Carroll was named the 2018 Distinguished Alumna of the Year during Homecoming.

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Patricia Carroll receives her award from Dr. Paul Conn.

Patricia Carroll was named the 2018 Distinguished Alumna of the Year during the President’s Circle Dinner at Lee University’s Homecoming earlier this month. This award is the highest honor given by the university to alumni and is given to a graduate who demonstrates excellence in his or her career, while also embracing the values that Lee embodies.

“Pat Carroll has been a part of the Lee story for many, many years,” said Lee president Dr. Paul Conn. “She’s had remarkable success as a businesswoman and was one of those people who always stayed connected to her alma mater, always came back to Homecoming and other events.”

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Carroll first came to Cleveland as a Lee Academy high school student. At first an aspiring teacher, she ultimately decided to study business at Lee University before starting a career as a successful businesswoman in both southern Ohio and southwest Florida.

In her acceptance remarks, Carroll affirmed her continued love for Lee. Even after 62 years, she said, she’s still excited whenever she comes back to Lee and sees the progress the school has made.

“I learned integrity at Lee University, and I learned it well,” said Carroll. “And it has paid off. It’s everywhere here. It’s from the top down. It was here when I started, and it’s still here today.”

In 2000, Carroll became the first woman to serve on the Lee University Board of Directors and is now a senior leader on the board. She is also a long-term financial supporter of Lee, and the Patricia Carroll Lecture Hall in the School of Nursing is named in her honor.

“She’s never lost her heart for Lee or her love for Lee,” said Conn. “We are so grateful for all she’s given over a lifetime to her alma mater since those high school years at Lee Academy.”

Patricia Carroll was named the 2018 Distinguished Alumna of the Year during Homecoming.
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Date: 2018-11-14

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Mary Beth Wickes was named Honorary Alumna of the Year earlier this month.

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During Homecoming earlier this month, Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn named Mary Beth Wickes the Honorary Alumna of the Year.

“If you like Lee music, you’ve got to love this woman,” said Conn. “She is the heart and soul of the Lee University School of Music. She’s been a part of the scene there for over 30 years — and not just a part of the scene, but in many years, Mary Beth has been the glue that holds it all together.”

Dr. Paul Conn presents Mary Beth Wickes with Honorary Alumna Award.

Wickes moved to Cleveland when her husband became the music minister at First Baptist Cleveland. She first served at Lee as the administrative assistant to the chair of the Department of Music in 1987, serving in a variety of both administrative and musical roles since that time.

Wickes has accompanied hundreds of music students during her time at Lee. She became the director of accompanying at Lee’s School of Music in 2003, coordinating the staff accompanists as well as serving as a staff accompanist. She is also the accompanist for Choral Union, one of the university’s vocal ensembles.

She served as pianist/organist and adult ensemble director at First Baptist Church for 26 years and later as organist at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She received her Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Mobile.

“I don’t know of anyone who’s contributed more to what we do here,” said Conn. “I don’t know of anyone who’s more deeply loved by our music students than this lady. When you mention Mary Beth Wickes to a Lee music student, you put a smile on somebody’s face.”

Academics

The Academic Sector is made up of six colleges and schools: the College
of Arts & Sciences, the Helen DeVos College of Education, the School of Business, the
School of Music, the School of Religion, and the School of Nursing.